U.S. and UN Move to Isolate Libya as Sanctions Are Planned

[chill_wind]

Source: NYT

U.S. and UN Move to Isolate Libya as Sanctions Are Planned
By HELENE COOPER and STEVEN ERLANGER
Published: February 25, 2011

WASHINGTON — The United States moved to increase diplomatic pressure on the embattled Libyan government of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi on Friday, suspending relations and preparing to impose unilateral sanctions because of the deadly violence the Libyan government has directed at protesters in the country.
Related in Opinion

Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, told reporters that the sanctions would be announced soon, but gave no specifics. Mr. Carney said the American embassy in Tripoli “has been shuttered” and that diplomatic and military-to-military relations were suspended.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/26/world/middleeast/26diplomacy.html

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(bold edit mine)

[gateley]

1. Reinstating the sanctions that Bush lifted so Big Oil could get in there and rebuild

their aging oil production structure? Those sanctions?

Why doesn't Bush just pick up the phone and call his friend Muammar and talk some sense into him? :shrug:

[chill_wind]

2. Request to Indict for Crimes Against Humanity

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/26/world/middleeast/26diplomacy.html

"(Adds quotes, details) PARIS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said on Friday a French-British draft resolution at the United Nations would ask for an arms embargo, financial sanctions and a request to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to indict Libyan leaders for crimes against humanity. "There is a French-English project ... we have asked for a resolution on a total arms embargo, sanctions and asking the ICC to proceed over crimes against humanity," Alliot-Marie told France Info radio. The sanctions could include financial sanctions and travel bans, she said. The U.N. Security Council plans to meet later on Friday to discuss the French-British draft proposal. Alliot-Marie said there were French naval ships in the area and did not "exclude" a no-fly zone over Libya, though that depended on foreign nationals being repatriated. "

[chill_wind]

3. Ghaddafi threatens to open up the arsenals

to arm his supporters.

"Wearing a fur-lined cap and sunglasses, and flanked by bodyguards, Gaddafi declared: "At the suitable time we will open the arms depot so all Libyans and tribes become armed, so that Libya becomes red with fire."

A vote on the UN resolution is not expected before next week. EU officials also discussed the possible imposition of punitive measures against the Gaddafi government, but stressed that any action would be led by decisions taken by the security council.

The steps under discussion fall a long way short of steps called for by some human rights groups, which wanted the UN to declare a no-fly zone over Libya if the regime continued to use warplanes to bomb or strafe demonstrators. Mention of a no-fly zone was removed from the Franco-British draft , and an emergency Nato meeting in Brussels did not even discuss it as a contingency measure."

Libya: UK officials tell Gaddafi loyalists to defect or face war crimes trial

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/25/libya-uk-gaddafi-sas-embassy

Human rights groups: Violence in Libya must stop

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/25/libya.human.rights/

[chill_wind]

4. Statement by President Obama on Libya Sanctions, as provided by the White House

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/02/gaddafi-obama-libya-sanctions.html

[Turborama]

5. Saying Gadhafi has 'zero legitimacy,' U.S. (closes embassy in Libya &) imposes sanctions

Source: McClatchy

BY HANNAH ALLAM, WARREN P. STROBEL AND JONATHAN S. LANDAY

MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

TOBRUK, Libya -- Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Libya's capital, Tripoli, on Friday in an ever more deadly battle for control of the country, as loyalists of dictator Moammar Gadhafi killed opponents by the dozens and grabbed hostages off the streets.
The United States shuttered its Embassy in Tripoli after evacuating its diplomats and most U.S. citizens in Libya, and announced it had begun imposing sanctions on Gadhafi's regime.

In a dramatic scene at the United Nations, where officials said more than 1,000 may be dead in Libya, the country's U.N. ambassador broke with Gadhafi and pleaded, "Please United Nations, save Libya."

Gadhafi has told Libyans, "Either I rule over you or I kill you or I destroy you," said the ambassador, Mohamed Shalgham, who was hugged by other diplomats, including his deputy, who was shaking and crying as the session concluded.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/25/2085992/saying-gadhafi-has-zero-legitimacy.html

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US closes embassy in Libya, prepares stiff sanctions against Gadhafi, loyalists

By Bradley Klapper (CP) – 37 minutes ago

WASHINGTON — The United States shuttered its embassy in Libya on Friday and readied stiff financial and other penalties against Moammar Gadhafi and his loyalists, ending days of cautious condemnation by all but calling for the unpredictable leader's immediate ouster.

Gadhafi's legitimacy has been "reduced to zero," the White House said as it announced the steps.

The sharper U.S. tone and pledges of tough action came after American diplomatic personnel were evacuated from the capital of Tripoli aboard a chartered ferry and a chartered airplane, escorting them away from the violence to Malta and Turkey. As they left, fighting raged on in Tripoli and elsewhere in Libya as Gadhafi vowed to crush the rebellion that now controls large parts of the country.

With U.S. diplomats and others out of harm's way, the administration moved swiftly. Shortly after the chartered plane left Libyan airspace, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the U.S. had been constrained in moving against Gadhafi and his loyalists due to concerns over the safety of Americans but was now ready to bring more pressure on the government to halt its attacks on opponents.

Full article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gll-XJ6OxBJYPIAqMGo_L_NYOjFQ?docId=6065159

[Psephos]

6. Time to call in the UN Human Rights Council

You know, the one that Libya chaired in 2003.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/jan/21/3


:eyes:

[Turborama]

7. U.S. backs expelling Libya from U.N. Human Rights Council

Maybe you missed this, seeing as it sunk to page 3 really fast? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4747011

[naaman fletcher]

8. Perhaps the UN can issue a strongly worded letter. nt.

[bloomington-lib]

9. Let's see if the sharper tone of disapproval works first

[Turborama]

10. They've drafted a "crimes against humanity" resolution and have called for an arms embargo

Link here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4749234

"Please, the United Nations, save Libya. Let there be no bloodshed, no killing of innocents. We want a decisive, rapid and courageous resolution from you," he said.

His deputy ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi sat behind him in tears, and Ban and several Security Council envoys later went over to embrace Shalgham after his speech.

The UN leader and other council ambassadors later called it an "historic moment" that completely changed the course of the council's actions on Libya.

Gerard Araud, the French ambassador, said "I think it was a very momentous moment." "It had a very serious impact," added Mark Kornblau, spokesman for the US mission.

[joshcryer]

11. Arms embargos affect dealers more than buyers, though.

UK wishes this wasn't happening.

[ButterflyBlood]

12. Obama imposes sanctions against Libya

Source: United Press International

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. President Obama Friday declared a state of emergency to impose unilateral sanctions on Libya for violence the Gadhafi regime has inflicted on its people.

"The Libyan government's continued violation of human rights, brutalization of its people, and outrageous threats have rightly drawn the strong and broad condemnation of the international community," Obama said in a statement issued by the White House Friday. "By any measure, Moammar Gadhafi's government has violated international norms and common decency and must be held accountable. These sanctions therefore target the Gadhafi government, while protecting the assets that belong to the people of Libya.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/02/25/Obama-imposes-sanctions-against-Libya/UPI-61861298667236/

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I have a feeling this won't be for very long, since Gadaffi will be receiving the Ceausescu treatment pretty soon due to his inability to see the writing on the wall.

[upi402]

13. He does a great job in FA

Not as fast as I'd like but I'm not juggling the very complex issus he must be. Can't wait to see what they actually do.

[DFLforever]

15. US was waiting for Americans to be evacuated..

The US diplomatic corps were the last to leave Friday.

This has been reported daily in UK news sources.

[upi402]

17. I caught that and really appreciated that too

He's not a dolt like Bush. (Which also makes it more depressing when he backs banksters and kicks us in the head)

[DFLforever]

18. The British embassy is staying put in Tripoli. .

Looks like the UK got the short straw and have been selected to do the legwork in Libya

[upi402]

19. Why not Italy?

Berlusconi is his pal, no?
On a recent visit, "During his sojourn, Gaddafi also put his customary flamboyance on display by meeting dozens of young, attractive Italian women who were hired by a hostess-booking company to hear him speak on the Koran. He subsequently expressed hope that Islam would become the main religion of Europe."



http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/features/article_1621282.php/Libya-chaos-threatens-Berlusconi-Gaddafi-chumminess-News-Feature

[DFLforever]

21. I've read Italy pulled its support like the rest of the EU.

And Berlusconi is at best on shaky grounds himself in Italy.

More seriously, there are still hundreds of British stuck out in the desert who haven't yet been able to get out of Libya.

[ButterflyBlood]

14. Frankly I notice an important lesson in all this...

Ben Ali and Mubarak may have been tyrants, but they did exercise restraint in violence and realized when their time was up. So now both aren't going to have too much problems for the rest of their lives, not exactly justice of course, but look at the alternative. Gadaffi responded with violence and brutality, and is looking likely to end up with the same fate as Mussolini and Ceausescu. For that matter his sons look to follow in the footsteps of Uday and Qusay.

Maybe other tyrants will take notice.

[somone]

16. "And I thought he was a friend"

[joshcryer]

20. Good! Wikileaks: Libya placed billions of dollars at U.S. banks. All frozen now, bitches.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/24/us-libya-wealth-idUSTRE71N2AT20110224

[Purveyor]

22. That'll "fix em"...my ass! Sanctions will stop the slaughter? eom